3d printing: build your own 3d printer and print your own...
TRANSCRIPT
800 East 96th Street,Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 USA
3D PRINTING
James Floyd Kelly
BUILD YOUR OWN 3D PRINTER AND PRINT YOUR OWN 3D OBJECTS
3D Printingii
3D Printing: Build Your Own 3D Printer and Print Your Own 3D Objects
Copyright © 2014 by Pearson Education, Inc.All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7897-5235-2ISBN-10: 0-7897-5235-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013949972
Printed in the United States of America
First printing October 2013
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Editor-in-Chief
Greg Wiegand
Executive Editor
Rick Kughen
Development Editors
William AbnerTodd Brakke
Managing Editor
Sandra Schroeder
Project Editor
Mandie Frank
Copy Editor
Barbara Hacha
Indexer
Lisa Stumpf
Proofreader
Dan Knott
Technical Editor
John Ray
Publishing Coordinator
Kristen Watterson
Designer
Mark Shirar
Compositor
Mary Sudul
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Contents at a Glance Introduction 1
CHAPTER 1 The Big Question—What Is a 3D Printer? 3
CHAPTER 2 Find Yourself a 3D Printer 17
CHAPTER 3 Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple 29
CHAPTER 4 Confi guring the Software 53
CHAPTER 5 First Print with the Simple 65
CHAPTER 6 Free 3D Modeling Software 83
CHAPTER 7 Creating a 3D Model with TinkerCad 105
CHAPTER 8 More 3D Modeling Tools 129
CHAPTER 9 Further Explorations 143
CHAPTER 10 Alternatives to the Printrbot Simple 151
CHAPTER 11 Where Do I Go from Here? 165
APPENDIX A 3D Printer and Modeling Resources 173
Index 177
3D Printingiv
Table of Contents Introduction 1
Chapter 1 The Big Question—What Is 3D Printing? 3
What Is a 3D Printer? 3
Say Hello to Plastic! 6
Solid to Liquid 8
A Different Type of Motor 10
3D Objects Require Three Axes 12
A Few Other Items 16
Chapter 2 Find Yourself a 3D Printer 17
3D Printer Options to Consider 17
Initial Cost 18
Ease of Assembly and Tech Support 23
Operating System Compatibility 24
Cost and Type of Filament 25
Resolution/Nozzle Diameter 26
Print Bed Size and Leveling 27
Do Your Homework 28
Chapter 3 Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple 29
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I 30
Early Assembly Observations 32
Midway Through Assembly Observations 38
End of Assembly Observations 43
Connecting All Wires 48
Finishing Thoughts 50
Chapter 4 Configuring the Software 53
Types of 3D Printing Software 54
Downloading the Repetier Software 55
Repetier Settings 56
Slic3r 60
Chapter 5 First Print with the Simple 65
Downloading an STL 66
Connecting the Simple to Repetier 68
Table of Contentsv
Get the Hot End Up to Proper Temperature 70
Slice Your Object into Layers 71
Home the Hot End 73
Print! 77
Upgrades! 82
Chapter 6 Free 3D Modeling Software 83
Tinkercad 84
Examining Tinkercad 85
Wrapping Up Tinkercad 104
Chapter 7 Creating a 3D Model with Tinkercad 105
Hello World 105
Printing a Sketch or Simple Image 122
Chapter 8 More 3D Modeling Tools 129
123D Family of Apps 129
123D Design 133
123D Creature 135
123D Sculpt 136
123D Make 138
123D Catch 139
Having Fun 141
Chapter 9 Further Explorations 143
Go Bake Some Cookies 143
Don’t Forget the Youngest 3D Fans 146
Around the House 147
Showing Off 147
OpenSCAD 148
Chapter 10 Alternatives to the Printrbot Simple 151
Build Your Own 3D Printer 151
Consider 3D Printer Kits 154
Kickstarter and 3D Printers 156
Print-It-for-You Services 159
CNC and Laser Cutters 160
Scanning Objects 162
3D Printingvi
Chapter 11 Where Do I Go From Here? 165
CNC Machine 166
Laser Cutter 169
Plasma Cutter 171
The Workshop of the Future 172
Appendix A 3D Printer and Modeling Resources 173
Index 177
vii
About the AuthorJames Floyd Kelly is a technology writer with degrees in English and Industrial Engineering. James has written on a wide variety of topics, including programming for kids, LEGO robotics, open-source software, and building 3D printers. James is a DIYer—a tinkerer and a maker who enjoys learning new skills whenever possible. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and two young boys.
DedicationFor Decker and Sawyer, my best projects ever
AcknowledgmentsI read a book on writing once that said the life of a writer is a solitary one. That statement might be true for novelists, but for technology writers it’s completely unfounded. I’m fortunate to have a lot of folks to talk with and share ideas, and many of them are directly responsible for making certain my books look good and are as error-free as possible. My colleagues at Pearson continue to make writing about technology enjoyable, and I’d like to thank Rick Kughen for taking the most basic of ideas (“It’s a book about 3D printing, but written for beginners who might not even know what a 3D printer is…”) and letting me run with it. Along the way, I’ve had a great support staff of editors that include William Abner, Barbara Hacha, and Mandie Frank. Just turn back a few pages and take a look at all the names of the people involved in making this book a reality—if you like what you read, please take a moment and email them a note of thanks.
In 2012 I had the good fortune of backing a 3D printer designed by Brook Drumm and sold through his company, Printrbot. Printrbot continues to grow, and Brook has been so generous in providing me with technical assistance, hardware, software, and just plain moral support. Jeremy Gallegos is a Printrbot employee who was always available to me, and I’d like to thank him for the phone calls and email support as I built the 3D printer used in this book. Both Brook and Jeremy were amazing resources to have, and I cannot recommend Printrbot’s products enough. (I’m now up to two models of Printrbot 3D printers.)
Finally, I have to thank my wife, Ashley, and my two boys. I do this with every book I write, but the sincerity behind my thanking all three of them for their support only increases with each finished writing project.
3D Printingviii
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Introduction
Welcome to 3D Printing!I’d like to welcome you to the world of 3D printing. If you’re already familiar with 3D printers, how they work, and what you can do with them—well, feel free to skip ahead. I won’t mind.
3D printing is exactly what it sounds like—printing something that can be picked up, held in your hands, and played with. It’s 3D, meaning it’s not flat like a piece of paper. It’s printing because the 3D object doesn’t just magically appear; it must be “printed” by a special device called a 3D printer.
All of this and much more is explained in Chapter 1, “The Big Question—What Is a 3D Printer?”—and with photos! So, if your interest is piqued and you want to learn more, feel free to skip ahead right now to Chapter 1. Again, I won’t mind.
You probably want to know a bit more about 3D printing. Maybe you’re a little nervous that it sounds a bit too technical, or too difficult. You’ll be happy to learn that there are kids doing this 3D printing thing. Young kids. How young? My oldest boy is six, and he’s learning much of what you’ll learn in this book and he’s having a blast. I’ve even heard of much younger kids designing and printing out fun little objects with a 3D printer.
What kinds of objects can 3D printer owners print? I’ve seen a range of objects from the simple to the advanced. Buttons, game tokens, and money clips are easy to design and print and are great examples of small, simple objects that can be made in plastic. But on the advanced side, I’ve seen a 2’ tall Eiffel Tower, a life-size human skull, a set of working gears that were inserted into a robot to make it go faster, and even a camera shell that holds film and takes real pictures. (If you just can’t wait to see what people are printing with 3D printers, point your web browser to www.thingiverse.com and spend a few minutes browsing around this library of free object files that users can download and print on their 3D printers.)
There’s really no need to be intimidated by 3D printing. Yes, this is a technology book, but I promise that I’ve written it for a nontechnical audience.
As you get a few more chapters deeper into the book, you’ll discover that I’ve pulled back the complicated and strange workings of this thing called 3D printing. I even picked a special 3D printer to use with this book. It’s called The Simple. How cool is that? It’s a small 3D printer that you can build from an inexpensive kit. But you don’t have to buy it or any other 3D printer right now. Read the book to see what’s involved; read my notes on building a 3D printer from a kit and testing it, and see how I created my own 3D bobbles for printing. When you’re done with the book, I hope
INTRODUCTION : Welcome to 3D Printing!2
you’ll find that the 3D printing hobby isn’t scary or intimidating. As a matter of fact, I hope you’ll be looking at 3D printers, comparing them and trying to figure out which model will work best for your needs.
So turn the page, start learning a bit more about what 3D printing is, how it is done, and what hardware and software is involved. If you decide that you want to give 3D printing a try, I can make you one more promise—you are going to have so much fun.
See you in Chapter 1!
3Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot SimpleIf you don’t own a 3D printer but are in the market for one, you may be wondering about the pros and cons of purchasing a kit versus a preassembled printer. I’ve built two 3D printers, and I can tell you that it was fun putting all the parts together, tightening the bolts, attaching the motors, and wiring up the electronics. But I’m comfortable doing those kinds of things. You may not be.
There is nothing wrong with purchasing a 3D printer that comes ready to use, right out of the box. I’m not comfortable doing my own taxes or dealing with plumbing issues. I know my comfort level with many things, and taxes and plumbing are on the HIRE SOMEONE list.
Most 3D printers come with excellent documentation. Questions you may have can usually be answered with a phone call or email to the company, but many 3D printer hobbyists out there are also quite friendly and helpful to novices who post questions on a forum. Many 3D printer kits may look complicated as you stare at all those bags of loose components, but I know a number of nontechnical folks who have successfully put together a 3D printer by moving slowly and steadily through the process.
To give you a better idea of what’s involved with a 3D printer assembly, I provide some commentary that goes hand in hand with the assembly instructions for the Printrbot Simple. The Printrbot company has great instructions on its website, and I’m not going to re-create the entire assembly document it has already created. Instead, I include some photos of my Simple’s assembly and use the various stages of completion to provide you with some more details and discussion about 3D printers and areas of assembly that might give you pause or concern.
Before you start this chapter, however, you might want to open a web browser and point it to the following address:
http://printrbot.com/shop/printrbot-simple/
This is the Simple’s home page, where you can find the online and up-to-date building instructions provided by Printrbot. Because Printrbot occasionally makes improvements to its kits, you should check the official website for the most accurate assembly instructions. If you’re feeling ambitious, feel free to read along with my assembly discussion while you view the official Printrbot assembly instructions online.
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple30
While you’re there, be sure to download the Bill of Materials (BOM) PDF file so you can get a complete listing of all hardware included in the kit. Should you purchase the kit (versus the preassembled version), you can use the BOM to verify you’ve got all the parts you need to do the assembly.
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part IThe first thing I’m going to do is verify that I have all the parts. I mentioned in the previous section that the Printrbot website offers a PDF file for download that contains the BOM. I can use this to make certain I have all the nuts and bolts, laser cut pieces, motors, and so on. You get the idea.
Figure 3.1 shows the current version of the BOM. Don’t go by this one because Printrbot may occasionally update the Simple and change the parts list. But as you can see, it lists things such as qty-12 8mm Linear Bearings, qty-34 Hex Nut- M3, and qty-1 Extruder gear, among others. (Keep in mind, however, that the BOM for your Simple may very well have changed by the time you’re reading this.)
FIGURE 3.1 The BOM for my Printrbot Simple.
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I31
After I’ve verified that I have all the parts, it’s time to start assembly. Some 3D printer manufacturers provide the assembly instructions in printed form, and others may send a DVD that contains documentation or videos that walk you through the assembly. Printrbot puts its assembly instructions online; you can see the first few steps in Figure 3.2.
FIGURE 3.2 The first assembly steps for the Printrbot Simple.
To make things go a bit smoother, I’ve laid out all the laser-cut wooden pieces to make them easier to find. As you can see in Figure 3.3, my layout of parts matches the layout for step 1, shown back in Figure 3.2. The only difference is that I’ve added the rectangular print bed near the top of my layout.
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple32
FIGURE 3.3 My laser-cut parts are ready to be assembled.
I can’t speak for all 3D printer assembly instructions, but I have found that reading through the instructions one or two times prior to beginning assembly often helps to visualize how everything is going to come together. One thing I like about the Printrbot Simple i nstruc-tions is that there are multiple photos for each of the steps. If you move your mouse pointer over another photo, the main image changes. Doing this can often help you to verify that you’ve got a part oriented properly when connecting to other parts.
NOTEYou might want to lay out all your wooden pieces and try to match them up to the ones shown in the official assembly instructions. It’s a great way to make sure you have all the wooden parts before you begin assembly.
Early Assembly ObservationsIn the first few steps, you assemble the base of the Simple. You see how to connect bearings to one of th e larger laser-cut pieces. The bearings have a slightly greasy feel because some oil has been applied to them for lubrication. Later you’ll insert metal rods through the cen-ters of the bearings, and the lubrication will allow them to slide back and forth easily. Figure
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I33
3.4 shows that I’ve got all four bearings attached to the wooden piece with zip ties. Notice that I haven’t yet clipped the zip ties like the ones shown in step 2 of Figure 3.2. I’ll clip them before moving on to the next step.
FIGURE 3.4 Metal rods will be inserted into bearings (underneath the wood piece).
NOTEIf you look back to Figure 3.2, notice that the BOM describes the bearings with a part number—LM8UU. Fortunately, all the bearings included in the Simple kit are labeled. You have to look carefully, but the part number is visible on the rubber gasket that’s inserted inside one end of each bearing.
Many 3D printers use aluminum rails or other materials to form a base. Instead of zip ties, these types of materials often require nuts and bolts to lock everything down. Part of the low cost of the Simple is found in the materials, such as the wooden frame pieces and the zip ties. Be certain to do your research so you’ll know the method used for assembling your own 3D printer.
Speaking of zip ties, you want to get into the habit of carefully examining the photos of the assembly instructions. You’ll often find clues about the proper placement of the nub that is formed when the zip tie is closed and locked. This nub can sometimes get in the way of moving parts. For example, if the text doesn’t tell you which side of a piece of wood that
Zip ties make for an easy
method of assembly
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple34
the zip tie’s nub should be on, consult a photo. During my assembly, there was never any question about which side of a piece of laser-cut wood the nub would go, but work slowly and always verify with a photo if you can.
Early in the assembly, you’ll connect your first motor to a piece of laser-cut wood, as shown in Figure 3.5.
FIGURE 3.5 X-axis motor attached to a laser-cut piece of wood.
You should be aware of a few items when bolting a motor onto a piece of wood:
■ You want to find and use the proper length bolt that will go all the way through the wood and into the motor. The motors for the Simple have four holes for bolts.
■ You do not need to crank the bolts down tightly; tighten them with an Allen wrench until they’re snug, but don’t tighten so much that the bolt cuts into the wood or crushes it.
■ Use a ruler (see Figure 3.6) to verify the length of all the bolts and pieces you’ll be using. Many of the small M3 bolts that come with the Simple differ in length only by 5mm. Even better, open the bag of bolts and separate them into cups or baggies by size. It’ll save you frustration when you’re in the middle of your build.
■ Each motor has a length of wires coming out of one side. Use photos to help you deter-mine the proper orientation of the motor so that the wires are pointing in the right direction. This will help later when you’re putting the Simple together and all the wires are running in the same direction (toward the circuit board). Also, many of the laser-cut pieces of the Simple have holes for routing wire through them. Use the instructions and the photos to discover the correct mounting position. (If you make a mistake, unbolting a motor and rotating it takes only a minute.)
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I35
FIGURE 3.6 Use a ruler to verify the lengths of a bolt.
The first two motors you’ll attach are for the X axis and the Z axis. The X-axis motor is used to move the print bed left and right (when looking at the Simple from the front). The Z-axis motor turns an item called a lead screw. Notice in Figure 3.7 that the Z-axis motor has its wires going through the precut rectangular hole. Also note that the instructions point out the two small circles that run up the left edge of the laser-cut piece of wood. This bit of information will help you attach the Z motor properly. If you mount it on the wrong side, the Z-motor axle (the metal rod that you can turn with your fingers) will have the two small circles on the right side.
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple36
FIGURE 3.7 The Z-motor’s wires are inserted up through the rectangular hole.
After the X and Z motors are attached to their respective wood pieces, it’s time to assemble the base. You can see in Figure 3.8 that the base is partially assembled (and the bearings that were slightly hidden in Figure 3.4 are now visible); it still needs the right side (if viewed from the front) and the two 10” metal rods inserted into the two laser-cut circles.
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I37
FIGURE 3.8 The Simple’s base is ready for more parts to be added.
The X-axis motor and the Y-axis motor both have a small piece of clear vinyl tubing that is inserted over their axles. Don’t push the vinyl tubing all the way into the axle hole, because the tube will rub and will provide resistance to the motor when it wants to spin. After you’ve inserted the tubing over the axle, put a zip tie on it near but not touching the motor. I put mine on with about 1/8” space of tubing left behind the zip tie, and both motors rotate just fine. Pull that zip tie as tight as you can get it, too. You’ll hear a click as it tightens up, and you can use a pair of pliers (pulling on the loose end) and a screwdriver (placed against the nub) to get one or two more clicks of tightness.
NOTESome Simple owners have suggested putting on the zip tie first and then tightening it down before inserting the metal axle. This might work, but there’s also the chance that you’ll tighten too much and never get the vinyl tube to fit over the axle. When the tube is on and tightened, rotate it with your fingers. If the metal axle rotates, you’ve probably got the vinyl tubing tight enough.
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple38
When you connect the X-axis assembly to the base, you’ll also get your first experience in using the small M3 nuts. These nuts are inserted into the small slot in the laser-cut wood, as shown in Figure 3.9. The nuts fit into the slot only one way, but even then you may have to give it a good squeeze to fit in there. After the nut is inserted into the slot, you’ll screw in an M3 bolt to hold the motor (or other pieces of wood) in place.
FIGURE 3.9 The M3 nuts go into the laser-cut slots sideways to accept a bolt.
Finish the base by attaching the right-side wood piece, and make certain the Z-motor and X-motor wires are coming up out of the rectangle cut in the center of the top piece of wood.
Midway Through Assembly ObservationsWhen it comes to the two 10” metal rods, you need to be very careful when inserting them through the cut holes. The instructions recommend using a hammer or a rubber mallet, and I highly recommend the rubber mallet option. The keys to this step are to hold each rod perfectly vertical as you hammer it into the circular hole. You’re going to feel resistance because the holes are slightly smaller in diameter because the rods must be held securely and tightly for the Z-axis to work properly. You can see in Figure 3.10 that I was successful in getting both metal rods inserted; pay attention to the instructions that tell you to place some extra wood pieces underneath the bottom of the base so it doesn’t crack.
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I39
FIGURE 3.10 The Z-axis metal rods are inserted.
Next, use zip ties to connect the bottom X-axis plate shown in Figure 3.11 to the two 6.5” metal rods inserted into the X-axis bearings. These rods should move left and right easily, with almost no resistance. Pay attention to how the nubs of the zip ties rest on top of this plate and not the bottom. You also want to make certain the small hole on the plate is on the left (when looking from the front). This hole will be important if you decide to install the limit switch packet that comes with the Simple.
NOTEWhat are limit switches? Limit switches will cut power to a motor when they are triggered, and they’re used by the Printrbot Simple to stop the motors spinning when certain limits are reached. For example, a limit switch attached to the print bed can be used to stop the X-motor when the print bed moves as far as possible to the right. Later you can use limit switches to “talk” to the software (see Chapter 5, “First Print with the Simple”)—this lets the software know when the motors have reached their maximum safe travel distance, as well as assist in defining a starting point (called Home) for print jobs. Note that limit switches were not available to me at the time I assembled my Printrbot, but instructions for installing limit switches are now available from Printrbot. Limit switches are also shipped with all Printrbot kits, so there’s really no reason to not install them.
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple40
After you attach the bottom X-axis plate, it’s time to add the fishing line used to move the X-axis print bed left and right. The trick for the X-axis is to get the line good and tight with three to four wraps around the vinyl tubing. It took me a couple of tries, but I was able to get it tight enough that moving the plate by hand would spin the tubing and the motor axle. Get a helper if you need someone to pull tight on the fishing line while you tighten the bolts. I wish I’d had someone nearby when I was at this step!
FIGURE 3.11 The bottom X-axis plate needs zip ties to lock it in place.
After you’re satisfied that the bottom X-axis plate moves smoothly left and right (and the fishing line stays secure on the vinyl tubing), attach the print bed using the 3M bolts with the small springs between the top plate (print bed) and the bottom plate. By tightening these four bolts, you’ll be able to level the print bed when you begin testing your printer.
It’s critical that the print bed be completely level so that the tip of the hot end that is extruding hot plastic doesn’t scrape against any portion of the wood print bed.
When you’re done with the X axis, it’s time to tackle the Y axis. The Y-axis steps are not complicated, but there are a lot of them! The Y-axis assembly starts when you attach four bearings on one side of a laser-cut wood piece and four bearings on the other side. (The step number may change, but this should help you know when you’ve reached the Y-axis point in the assembly.)
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I41
Again, pay attention to the location of the zip tie nubs as well as the orientation of the wooden pieces. Use the photos as visual clues. For example, in Figure 3.12, you’ll see that an angled notch is cut into this normally square piece. That angled notch will help you orient the piece and show you where the zip tie nubs are to be located so they don’t interfere with any moving parts.
FIGURE 3.12 The Y-axis assembly begins with this piece.
Finish attaching a few more pieces to the wooden piece with all the bearings, and then bolt in the Y-axis motor (again, using photos to help you determine which side of the wooden piece the motor should be attached to as well as the direction of the wires). I’m going to call this Y-axis Mini-Assembly 1. Set this piece (with the motor) aside for a moment.
You’ll now build the Y-axis Mini-Assembly 2, which is fairly straightforward. When you’re done, you’ll have a long Y-axis assembly that looks like the one in Figure 3.13.
Lots of ties and bearings—
use this notch to help
Zip ties hold the bearings
in place
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple42
FIGURE 3.13 This assembly allows the hot end to move backward and forward.
Set the Y-axis Mini-Assembly 2 aside with Mini-Assembly 1, and next you’ll tackle part of the Z axis. The Z axis differs from the X and Y axes in that it won’t be using fishing line. Instead, the Z axis requires the use of the 10” lead screw with a piece of vinyl tubing zip tied to it, as shown in Figure 3.14.
FIGURE 3.14 Use a zip tie to hold the vinyl tubing to the lead screw.
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I43
You then insert the open end of the vinyl tubing over the Z-axis motor and use another zip tie to hold it in place. Get that zip tie good and tight, as shown in Figure 3.15. Spin the lead screw with your hand; if the motor axis turns easily, cut the tail on the zip tie. Otherwise, tighten the zip tie a bit more.
FIGURE 3.15 Attach the lead screw to the Z-axis motor.
End of Assembly ObservationsNext, you’ll tackle attaching the circuit board. This is easy, but be careful not to damage the circuit board or touch any of the sensitive electronics parts on its surface. It will help you to connect the power plug to the circuit board after you’ve zip tied the board to the side of the Simple, as shown in Figure 3.16.
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple44
FIGURE 3.16 All the wires from the motors will eventually connect to the motherboard.
Now it’s time to attach both Y-axis mini-assemblies (1 and 2). Find the small nut that fits the lead screw. Slide the Y-axis Mini-Assembly 1 over the two 10” metal rods so that the lead screw comes up and through the cutout in the shape of the nut. Stick the nut into the hole and thread the lead screw into it. Make sure the nut stays in the (nut-shaped) hole, because you then use two M3 bolts to lock that nut into place, as shown in Figure 3.17.
Zip-tie the circuit
board to the side
of the Simple
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I45
FIGURE 3.17 The lead screw will control the up/down movement of the hot-end.
Next you’ll insert two additional 6.5” metal rods through the Y-axis bearings. The same as with the X axis, you take the Y-axis Mini-Assembly 2 (shown back in Figure 3.13) and attach it to the Y-axis Mini-Assembly 1 with zip ties around the metal rods. Make certain these zip ties are as tight as you can get them – the tighter the better. And while you’re at it, go ahead and tie a small knot and secure it with an M3 bolt and nut to the inside of the long Y-axis piece, as shown in Figure 3.18. (In Figure 3.18, you can also see the zip ties holding the longer Y-axis assembly.)
Lock the nut in place
with two M3 bolts
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple46
FIGURE 3.18 The Y axis assembled, and fishing line attached on one side.
Wrap the fishing line three to four times around the vinyl tubing and secure the other end with an M3 bolt and nut, keeping the line as tight as possible.
NOTEI found that wrapping loosely and using my thumb to cover the end of the vinyl tubing prevented the fishing line from slipping off. After I had three to four wraps, I used my fingernail to push the fishing line together (making sure it didn’t overlap on itself) while pulling on the free end and keeping tension on the line. If you’ve got someone to help, the person can hold and keep tension on the free end of the line as you wrap. Whichever way you do it, try to keep tension on the line as you wrap and secure it.
In the remaining steps, you assemble the extruder and hot-end assembly. You start by stacking a mix of five odd-shaped parts and securing it all with three M3 bolts as shown in Figure 3.19.
Tie off one end of the
fishing line and lock it
down with an M3 bolt
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I47
FIGURE 3.19 Starting the extruder assembly.
In additional steps you assemble smaller bits (some using wood glue) that end up looking like the item you see in Figure 3.20. This little collection of parts puts tension on the plastic filament as it is being fed into the hot end, so go slowly, making sure all the pieces and parts are oriented properly, and attach it carefully!
FIGURE 3.20 More bits that make up the extruder assembly.
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple48
You begin wrapping up your assembly by inserting the small driver gear over the axle of the extruder motor. Notice it has small grooves on it (teeth) that will grab onto the filament and help feed it into the hot end.
Insert the hot end, secure it with a couple of M3 bolts, add the last few wooden pieces used to direct the filament into the hot end, and you’re done! When you’ve finished your Simple, it should look like the one in Figure 3.21.
FIGURE 3.21 A finished Printrbot Simple, ready for testing.
Connecting All WiresAll that’s left now is to connect up all the various wires to the circuit board. You’ll want to look carefully at the circuit board and attach the wires to their respective plug-in ports. For example, the X-motor’s wires all terminate in a white plug that looks like the one in Figure 3.22.
Printrbot Simple Assembly Part I49
FIGURE 3.22 A closeup of the Simple circuit board.
I’m hesitant to point out any particular ports on the circuit board because these could easily change in future versions, but one thing I do wish to point out is that every port is labeled. This makes it easy to match up the motors and hot-end to their proper ports. For example, in Figure 3.22, if you look at the very bottom of the board, you’ll see a white port with the letters T-EXT. The hot-end is constantly sending its current temperature to the circuit board (and on to the software used in 3D printing), and you’ll need to make sure to connect the proper wire coming from the hot-end to this port.
Likewise, you’ll find motor connectors running down the left side of the circuit board. In Figure 3.22, motor ports on the circuit board have a label like Z-MOT, Y-MOT, X-MOT, and E-MOT. These correspond to the four motors, Z, Y, X, and Extruder, respectively.
Again, you’ll want to consult the Getting Started Guide for complete instructions on wiring up your own Simple.
The T-EXT Port
CHAPTER 3: Assembly Assistance for the Printrbot Simple50
Finishing ThoughtsMy total build time was less than four hours. Keep in mind that I was shooting photos and taking notes, so I might have been able to complete it in three hours or less. But I wasn’t in a hurry, and you shouldn’t be either.
There’s a reason this 3D printer is called the Printrbot Simple. It’s not hard to build. You have to take your time, examine the photos, read the assembly instructions, and look over all the parts in your kit to make sure you’ve got everything. It’s amazing that the only tools required were two Allen wrenches (2.5mm and 1.5mm), a Phillips-head screwdriver, pliers, scissors, wood glue, and my two hands. I’ve put together furniture that required more tools than this!
Still, I know that the first time building a 3D printer can be a bit stressful. I recommend frequent breaks. If you hit a snag or get frustrated, walk away for a few minutes.
Sometimes, skipping ahead in the instructions can also help. I don’t mean you should jump ahead and start building, but simply observe. Look at photos and read instructions, and you’ll find that sometimes a question you have is answered a few steps forward. I found myself doing this a few times when I was trying to understand how one or two small pieces were oriented with respect to other pieces. Another time, I jumped ahead to see a photo that showed me the proper orientation of the wiring on one motor. Take advantage of the dozens of full-color photos that often help you out.
NOTEDon’t ignore the Printrbot forum! You’ll find that each of the Printrbot models, including the Simple, has its own area on the forum, and plenty of “experts” lurk there who are happy to help someone new get a 3D printer working and printing.
Keep in mind that the assembly instructions for the Simple are a work in progress. If an error is found, it’s usually fixed quickly and an update is posted online. In fact, as I wrote this, I went over the assembly instructions and found two new steps for creating a flat surface on the extruder motor’s axle with a file. Those weren’t there yesterday, and I’m glad I found them because it’s an easy thing to remove the extruder motor and perform this step.
So, I’ll wrap up this chapter by summarizing some of the lessons I learned during my Simple build:
■ Don’t overtighten your M3 bolts. ■ Look at photos to determine where a zip-tie nub is placed (and on what side of the
wood). ■ An extra set of hands is always nice, especially when wrapping the fishing line around
the vinyl tubing on the X and Y motors.
Finishing Thoughts51
■ Use a ruler to measure the length of bolts; don’t eyeball them. ■ If a step doesn’t call for wood glue, don’t use it! ■ Use a screwdriver and pliers to tighten a zip tie one or two more clicks. ■ When hammering in the 10” metal rods for the Z axis, use a rubber mallet and go
slowly. The metal rods do not need to go all the way through the holes on the very bottom of the Simple; 3/4 is fine.
■ When in doubt, contact tech support at (http://www.jotformpro.com/Printrbot/support-ticket) or post a question on the forum (http://www.printrbottalk.com/forum/)
I wish you the best of luck as you build your Simple! It was fun to build, and I cannot wait to fire it up and start printing, which is the focus of Chapter 4, “Configuring the Software.” I also show you how to test your Simple to make sure everything works as designed, and then we print a test item. Let’s go!
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Index
Symbols3D CAD with Autodesk 123D, 1743Ders.org, 1743D models, project ideas, 147-1483DP Forum, 1733D printer kits, 17, 154-1553D printers, 5-6
building your own, 151-153resources, 175
3Dprinting-Forums, 1733D printing services, 159-1603D printing software, types of, 54-553D printing supplies, resources, 1755mm Calibration Cube with Steps
(Thingiverse), 66123D Catch app, 139-140123D Creature app, 135-136123D Design, 133-134123D family of apps, 129-133
123D Catch, 139-140123D Creature, 135-136123D Design, 133-134123D Make, 138123D Sculpt, 136-138
123D Make app, 138123D Sculpt app, 136-138
AABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), 25adding letters to Hello World medallion,
118-120
additive process, 166adjusting axis, 73-77Align feature, Tinkercad, 97-98aligning
Hello World medallion, 111-112objects, Tinkercad, 95-97
Amazon.com, 175assembling Printrbot Simple, 30-31
attaching circuit boards, 43-44base, 36-38bearings, 32bolting motors to wood, 34-35circuit boards, 48-49extruders, 46-48fi shing line, 40metal rods, 38print bed, 40tips for, 50X-axis plate, 40Y-axis, 40-43zip ties, 33
assembly instructions, Printrbot Simple, 29-31attaching circuit boards, Printrbot, 43-44AutoDesk, 174axis, 12-15
adjusting, 73-77
Bbase, assembling Printrbot Simple, 36-38bearings, Printrbot Simple, 32Bill of Materials (BOM), 30BIY (Build It Yourself), 153
178blue painter’s tape
blue painter’s tape, 67, 81bolting motors to wood, Printrbot Simple,
34-35BOM (Bill of Materials), 30books, resources, 174bottom X-axis plate, Printrbot Simple, 40building your own 3D printer, 151-153buttons, Tinkercad, 87-89
CCAD (Computer Aided Design), 54, 83
Tinkercad. See TinkercadCAD software, 54calibration objects, 66CAM (Computer Aided
Manufacturing), 54centering objects, Tinkercad, 100-102children, sharing 3D printing with,
146-147circuit boards, 16
assembling Printrbot Simple, 43-44, 48-49CNC machines, 160-162, 166-168
cost, 169Computer Aided Design (CAD), 54, 83
Tinkercad. See TinkercadComputer Aided Manufacturing
(CAM), 54connecting Printrbot Simple to Repetier,
68-69considerations when buying a 3D printer,
17-18cost and type of fi lament, 25ease of assembly and tech support, 23-24initial cost, 18-22operating system compatibility, 25print bed size and leveling, 27-28resolution/nozzle diameter, 26-27
Cookie Cutter Customizer, 144cookie cutter project, 143-146
coordinates, axes, 12-15cost
considerations when buying a 3D printer, 18-22
of CNC machines, 169of laser cutters, 170
Create New Design button, Tinkercad, 87Create Project button, Tinkercad, 87customer support, 22
DDaniel, Patrick Hood, 169dashboard, Tinkercad, 86decorative edges, creating, 115-118Design & Modeling for 3D Printing, 174desktop version of apps, 131dimensions, 4downloading
Repetier software, 55-56STL fi les, 66-67
Drumm, Brook, 156dual extruders, 18
Eease of assembly, considerations when
buying a 3D printer, 23-24eBay, 175extruders, 9
assembling Printrbot Simple, 46-48extrusion, 9
Ffi laments
considerations when buying a 3D printer, 25
Repetier, 62Fill Density, Repetier, 61
179multicolor support
fi shing lineassembling Printrbot Simple, 40wrapping, 46
fl ipping Hello World medallion, 114Form 1, 158
Gg-code, 54, 72g-code Z-15, 72Getting Started with RepRap, 174grouping, Hello World medallion, 115
Hheated beds, 59, 82Hello World medallion, 105-106
adding letters, 118-120aligning, 111-112creating a lip, 115-118exporting to STL fi les, 120-121fl ipping, 114grouping, 115rotating, 109-110Round Roof object, 108, 113sizing, 107-108
helpful tools to print, 147homing nozzles, 73-76, 82hot end, 9
getting to proper temperature, 70-71moving, 73-77
hot-end options, 22
I-Jimporting SVG fi les, 124-125iPad/iPhone version of apps, 132
KKickstarter, 156-158kids, sharing 3D printing with, 146-147
Llaser cutters, 160-162, 169-171
cost, 170layering, 7layers, slicing objects into, 71letters, adding (Hello World medallion),
118-120leveling, considerations when buying a 3D
printer, 27-28limit switches, 39lips (decorative edge), creating on Hello
World medallion, 115-118log in, Tinkercad, 85loops, Repetier, 61
MM3 nuts, 38Make, Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing, 174MakerBot, Replicator 2, 19MakerBot Digitizer, 162melting plastic, 8-9menus, Tinkercad, 87-89metal rods, assembling Printrbot
Simple, 38motors, 10-12
bolting to wood, 34-35stepper motors, 11
moving hot end, 73-77multicolor support, 22
180nozzle, moving
Nnozzle, moving, 73-77nozzle diameter
considerations when buying a 3D printer, 26-27
Repetier, 63nozzles, homing, 73-76, 82nuts, M3 nuts, 38
Oobjects
aligning in Tinkercad, 95-97centering in Tinkercad, 100-102rotating in Tinkercad, 91-93saving in Tinkercad, 103scanning, 162-163simple objects, creating in Tinkercad, 89sizing in Tinkercad, 89-91
ratios, 94slicing into layers, 71stacking in Tinkercad, 98-100
Offi cial Printrbot Forum, 173one-dimensional objects, 4OpenBeam, 153-154OpenSCAD, 148-149operating system compatibility,
considerations when buying a 3D printer, 25
options to consider when buying a 3D printer, 17-18cost and type of fi lament, 25ease of assembly and tech support, 23-24initial cost, 18-22operating system compatibility, 25print bed size and leveling, 27-28resolution/nozzle diameter, 26-27
Ppainter’s tape, 81PLA (Polyactic Acid), 25plasma cutters, 162, 171-172PlasmaCam, 171plastic, 6-7
melting, 8-9temperatures, 8
plastic fi lament, 8points, 4Polyactic Acid, 25Ponoko, 173preparing for printer assembly, 32print bed, assembling Printrbot Simple, 40print bed size, considerations when buying
a 3D printer, 27-28printer kits, 154-155printers, 3-4
3D printers. See 3D printerspreparing for assembling, 32
printing, 77-80helpful tools, 147simple images, 122-127sketches, 122-127
printing services, 159-160printing supplies, resources, 175Printrbot, 156Printrbot forum, 50Printrbot Simple, 20-21
assembling, 30-31attaching circuit board,43-44base,36-38bearings, 32bolting motors to wood,34-35circuit boards,48-49extruders,46-48fi shing line,40metal rods,38print bed,40tips for,50X-axis plate,40
181software
Y-axis,40-43zip ties,33
assembly instructions, 29-31BOM, 30connecting to Repetier, 68-69
Printrbottalk.com, 173programming languages, 105project ideas, 147-148projects
cookie cutters, 143-146Hello World medallion, 105-106
adding letters, 118-120aligning, 111-112creating a lip, 115-118exporting to STL fi les, 120-121fl ipping, 114grouping, 115rotating, 109-110Round Roof object, 108, 113sizing, 107-108
proprietary fi lament, 22
QQuests, Tinkercad, 85-87
Rratios, sizing objects in Tinkercad, 94Repetier
connecting Printrbot Simple to, 68-69downloading, 55-56settings, 56-59Slic3r, 60-64STL fi les, 66
Replicator 2 (MakerBot), 19Rep Rap, 152RepRap Forum, 173resizing
Hello World medallion, 108objects in Tinkercad, 89-91
ratios, 94
resolution, considerations when buying a 3D printer, 26-27
resources3D printers, 175books, 174printing supplies, 175software, 174websites, 173-174
rotatingHello World medallion, 109-110objects in Tinkercad, 91-93
Round Roof object, Hello World medallion, 108, 113
Ssaving objects, Tinkercad, 103Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), 123scanning objects, 162-163Sculpteo, 159-160, 173Shapeways, 159-160, 173ShopBot, 161Simple Getting Started Guide, 53simple images, printing, 122-127simple objects, creating in Tinkercad, 89sizing
Hello World medallion, 107-108objects in Tinkercad, 89-91
ratios, 94sketches, printing, 122-127Slic3r
Repetier software, 60-64slicing objects into layers, 71
slicing objects into layers, 71software
CAD. See CAD (Computer Aided Design)Repetier software
downloading, 55-56settings, 56-59Slic3r, 60-64
resources, 174types of 3D printing software, 54-55
182Soliforum
Soliforum, 173stacking objects, Tinkercad, 98-100stepper motors, 11stereolithography, 65STL fi les (stereolithography), 65, 83
downloading, 66-67Hello World medallion, 120-121
subtractive process, 166SVG fi les (Scalable Vector Graphics),
123-125
Ttech support, considerations when buying
a 3D printer, 23-24temperature, getting hot end to proper
temperature, 70-71temperatures, melting plastic, 8test loops, Repetier, 61Thingiverse, 174
5mm Calibration Cube with Steps, 66Tinkercad, 83-84
Align feature, 97-98buttons, 87-89centering objects, 100-102Create New Design button, 87Create Project button, 87creating simple objects, 89dashboard, 86lining up objects, 95-97log in, 85menus, 87-89Quests, 85-87rotating objects, 91-93saving objects, 103sizing objects, 89-91
ratios, 94stacking objects, 98-100user accounts, 85
troubleshooting fi lament not feeding to hot end, 79
tutorials, Tinkercad, 85-87two-dimensional objects, 4
U-VUltimachine, 175upgrades, homing nozzles, 82user accounts, Tinkercad, 85
Wwarranties, 22web version of apps, 131WebGL, 131websites, resources, 173-174wrapping fi shing line, 46
XX10, 72X-axis motor, attaching to wood, 34X-axis plate, assembling Printrbot
Simple, 40
YY-axis, assembling Printrbot Simple, 40-43Y-axis Mini-Assembly 1, 41Y-axis Mini-Assembly 2, 41-43
ZZ axis, 14Z-axis motor, 43zip ties, 39
Printrbot Simple, 33Z-motor, assembling Printrbot Simple, 36